Inspiration is Meaningless. Motivation is Overrated. Discipline is ALL.

Sorry, not buying it. Inspiration is what gets you to pick up the pen (or create a new text document, I suppose). Inspiration is not what finishes the job. Planning and discipline finish the job.

The task of writing a book (any kind of book – I don’t care if your genre of choice is Sci-Fi, Romance, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, or anything else) is a long, sustained process. You absolutely must have the discipline to attack the work every day, whether you are actively writing your story, doing research, mapping out your plot, or building characters.

A lack of time is no excuse. Make the time. If this is important to you, you will find a way. I get up every morning between 4:30 and 5:00 and write until it’s time to go to work.

Do I miss the sleep? You bet your ass. Would I rather be sleeping? Hell no. I got shit to do.

I go to the office, work my professional day job, come home in the evening, and spend time with my wife and son. Next morning: do it all again.

You’re not going to love every minute of the process. That’s because it’s work. Regardless, if you have something in you that has to be expressed those portions of the process that are a slog will be worth it.

Attack the story, strike out violently to kill your procrastination, and finish your project. Else, you only dabble.

4 thoughts on “Inspiration is Meaningless. Motivation is Overrated. Discipline is ALL.”

This was the discipline Ernest Hemingway followed in his career. Without fail, whether inspired or not, he went to his standing desk at the same time everyday and wrote for a specific block of time. As in any profession discipline and structure is key. Unclutter the mind and create.